Fiber And 5G

Fiber is the key to enable both LTE Advanced Pro and eventually 5G.

13:08 02 July 2017

Although 5G is not expected to be deployed until 2020, networks are already transforming to meet the requirements needed to deliver ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency and ultra-high capacity.

 

While getting ready for 5G, LTE Advanced Pro deployments have started and are expected to achieve gigabit speeds, which may allow operators to address some 5G use cases with their LTE networks. These deployments require network architectures that can support the increased speeds and capacity of LTE Release 14 and beyond.

 

The pivot toward LTE Advanced Pro and 5G is happening to both physical and logical network architectures. Network virtualisation is ramping up to allow operators to build more flexible and cost-effective use of their resources. Virtualisation will underpin 5G concepts such as network slicing, where networks support a variety of end user profiles using different latency and data rate.

 

Fiber and reliable optical distribution service are the keys to enable these new architectures. Common Public Radio Interface signals must be carried between the BBU hotels and distribution cell sites so fiber-to-the-antenna implementations will continue to proliferate.